U.S. patent application number 11/023456 was filed with the patent office on 2005-07-28 for communications terminal apparatus, reception apparatus, and method therefor.
This patent application is currently assigned to NTT DoCoMo, Inc.. Invention is credited to Fujimoto, Hiroshi, Kinno, Akira, Nakayama, Takehiro, Suzuki, Takashi, Yukitomo, Hideki.
Application Number | 20050165973 11/023456 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34631932 |
Filed Date | 2005-07-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050165973 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nakayama, Takehiro ; et
al. |
July 28, 2005 |
Communications terminal apparatus, reception apparatus, and method
therefor
Abstract
A communications terminal apparatus, a reception apparatus, and
a method can enhance the effect of reducing the amount of
information to be transmitted when text data is generated and
transmitted. The communications terminal apparatus 100 stores key
identifier definition information in a key identifier
definition-storage area 1071. The communications terminal apparatus
100 obtains a key identifier corresponding to an operated key from
the key identifier definition-storage area 1071 when the key is
operated, and adds and stores it as a key identifier string in the
input key identifier storage area 1073. The communications terminal
apparatus 100 transmits the key identifier string stored in the
input key identifier storage area 1073 by the transmission function
1031 when a transmit instruction is detected.
Inventors: |
Nakayama, Takehiro;
(Yokohama-shi, JP) ; Suzuki, Takashi;
(Yokosuka-shi, JP) ; Yukitomo, Hideki;
(Yokohama-shi, JP) ; Kinno, Akira; (Yokohama-shi,
JP) ; Fujimoto, Hiroshi; (Yokohama-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CROWELL & MORING LLP
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY GROUP
P.O. BOX 14300
WASHINGTON
DC
20044-4300
US
|
Assignee: |
NTT DoCoMo, Inc.
Chiyoda-ku
JP
|
Family ID: |
34631932 |
Appl. No.: |
11/023456 |
Filed: |
December 29, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
710/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 2250/70 20130101;
G06F 3/0237 20130101; H04M 2250/58 20130101; H04M 1/72436
20210101 |
Class at
Publication: |
710/001 |
International
Class: |
G06F 003/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 22, 2004 |
JP |
2004-014599 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A communications terminal apparatus, comprising: a plurality of
keys: key identifier definition-storage means for storing a key
identifier uniquely corresponding to each of the plurality of keys;
input key identifier storage means for adding and storing as a key
identifier string a key identifier corresponding to a key obtained
by the key identifier definition-storage means when at least one of
the plurality of keys is operated; and transmission means for
transmitting a key identifier string stored in the input key
identifier storage means when a transmit instruction is
detected.
2. The communications terminal apparatus according to claim 1,
further comprising: character code definition-storage means for
storing at least one character code corresponding to each of the
plurality of keys; and character string presentation means for
presenting a candidate character string represented by a character
code string corresponding to a key identifier string stored in the
input key identifier storage means and discriminated based on a
character code stored in the character code definition-storage
means.
3. The communications terminal apparatus according to claim 2,
further comprising: language knowledge storage means for storing
language knowledge data for analysis of a character string, wherein
the character string presentation means further analyzes based on
language knowledge data stored in the language knowledge storage
means a candidate character string discriminated based on a
character code stored in the character code definition-storage
means, and presents a corresponding character string as a
candidate.
4. The communications terminal apparatus according to claim 1,
further comprising: character string determination means for
determining one candidate character string to be presented by the
character string presentation means, wherein the transmission means
transmits a key identifier string stored in the input key
identifier storage means only when there is one candidate character
string to be presented by the character string presentation
means.
5. The communications terminal apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the transmitting means transmits a key identifier string
stored in the input key identifier storage means after compressing
the key identifier string.
6. The communications terminal apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the plurality of keys include a key for selection of the
type of language.
7. The communications terminal apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein when the key identifier is configured by the amount of
information of n (n is a natural number) bits, the number of the
plurality of keys is larger than (n-1)th power of 2, and is equal
to or smaller than n-th power of 2.
8. The communications terminal apparatus according to claim 1,
further comprising: reception means for receiving the key
identifier string from an external device; and character code
string discrimination means for discriminating a character code
string corresponding to the key identifier string based on the key
identifier string received by the reception means.
9. A reception apparatus, comprising: reception means for receiving
the key identifier string from the communications terminal
apparatus according to claim 1; and character code string
discrimination means for discriminating based on a key identifier
string received by the reception means a character code string
corresponding to the key identifier string.
10. A method for directing a computer to perform, comprising: a key
identifier string discriminating step of discriminating whether or
not, when an operation signal of a key is detected, a key
identifier corresponding to the key represents a transmit
instruction; a code string storing step of adding and storing the
key identifier as a key identifier string in a key identifier
storage area when it is discriminated in the key identifier string
discriminating step that the key identifier does not represent a
transmit instruction; and a transmitting step of transmitting a key
identifier string stored in the key identifier storage area when it
is discriminated in the key identifier string discriminating step
that the key identifier represents a transmit instruction.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a communications terminal
apparatus, a reception apparatus, and a method for transmitting and
receiving text data generated in a key operation.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Conventionally, a technology of generating text data and
converting Kana to Kanji by operating the keyboard of a personal
computer, a mobile telephone, etc. has been studied (for example,
refer to U.S. Pat. No. 5,818,437, JP11-312046A, JP54-139356A and
JP58-144246A.
[0005] Furthermore, in recent years, in a communications terminal
such as a mobile telephone, etc., a service of transmitting text
data generated using an input interface such as a keyboard, etc.
has become widely spread.
[0006] In the conventional technology, text data is represented by
a standardized character code string. As a standardized character
code string, for example, ASCII (American Standard Code for
Information Interchange) is used in English, and Shift-JIS
(Japanese Industrial Standards) is used in Japanese. Since a
character code corresponds one to one to a character, it is
necessary to define codes for the number of types of characters
used. For example, English ASCII having a relatively smaller number
of types of characters requires 8 bits to represent one character
while Japanese Shift-JIS having a larger number of types of
characters requires 16 bits. Generally, when text data is
transmitted, a character code string configuring a plurality of
character codes is transmitted. The amount of information is
obtained by a product of the amount of information specific to
character code (for example, 8 bits for ASCII) and the number of
character codes. When a character code string is represented by a
smaller amount of information, the communications cost can be
reduced. Therefore, the band width which is the resources can be
more efficiently used.
[0007] Since there are several text data compressing methods in
which a given character code string is represented by a smaller
number of codes, it is possible to reduce the text data
transmission cost using these methods. For example, when a
character is input by a user from an input interface such as a
keyboard, etc., the communications terminal generates a character
code string (text data to be transmitted), compresses the character
code string in the text data compressing method such as the LZ77
(for example, refer to "A Universal Algorithm for Sequential Data
Compression" IEEE Transactions on Information Theory 23 (3)
:337-343 (1977) by Jacob Ziv, Abraham Lempel; hereinafter referred
to as Reference 1), the BSTW (for example, refer to "A locally
adaptive data compression scheme" Communications of the ACM,
29:320-330, 1986 by J. Bentley, D. Sleator, R. Tarjan, and V. Wei;
hereinafter referred to as Reference 2), etc., and then transmits
the compressed data. Then, the receiving communications terminal
restores the compressed data to the original character code string
in the decompressing method corresponding to the compressing
method, and displays the result on the output interface such as a
display, etc. The compressing methods such as the LZ77, the BSTW,
etc. are performed by using the bias of the distribution of the
array of code string (frequency and position information about a
specific array are defined as a feature amount), and replacing a
part of the code string with a smaller number of codes.
[0008] However, since the above-mentioned conventional methods
represent by codes not only the number of types of characters but
also the pointer to the specific character code string and the
position information, the amount of information specific to a code
increases (since there are restrictions on the type of characters
representable by the same bit, it is also possible not to increase
the amount of information specific to a code) and sufficient
compression efficiency cannot be attained. However, since the
decrease of the number of codes compensates for the increase of the
amount of information specific to codes, the methods can be
practically used.
[0009] As described above, it is not possible to sufficiently
reduce the amount of information about text data to be
transmitted.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present invention has been developed to solve the
above-mentioned problems, and aims at providing a communications
terminal apparatus, a reception apparatus, and a method for
enhancing the effect of reducing the amount of information to be
transmitted when text data is generated and transmitted.
[0011] To solve the above-mentioned problems, the first aspect of
the invention includes: a plurality of keys: key identifier
definition-storage means for storing a key identifier uniquely
corresponding to each of the plurality of keys; input key
identifier storage means for adding and storing as a key identifier
string a key identifier corresponding to a key obtained by the key
identifier definition-storage means when at least one of the
plurality of keys is operated; and transmission means for
transmitting a key identifier string stored in the input key
identifier storage means when a transmit instruction is
detected.
[0012] Based on the first aspect of the invention, the
communications terminal apparatus can generate and transmit the key
identifier string of a smaller amount of information by defining a
key identifier by the smallest amount of information capable of
representing each key when generating and transmitting a key
identifier string which is an array of a key identifier uniquely
corresponding to an operated key. Therefore, the effect of reducing
an amount of information can be enhanced when transmitting text
data. Thus, the communications cost can be reduced, and the network
resources of a band width, etc. can be used efficiently.
[0013] The second aspect of the invention is based on the
communications terminal apparatus according to the first aspect,
and further includes: character code definition-storage means for
storing at least one character code corresponding to each of the
plurality of keys; and character string presentation means for
presenting a candidate character string represented by a character
code string corresponding to a key identifier string stored in the
input key identifier storage means and discriminated based on a
character code stored in the character code definition-storage
means.
[0014] Based on the second aspect of the invention, the
communications terminal apparatus presents a candidate character
string represented by a character code string corresponding to a
key identifier string. Therefore, a user can confirm what type of
candidate character string is generated by a key operation.
[0015] The third aspect of the invention is based on the
communications terminal apparatus according to the second aspect,
and further includes language knowledge storage means for storing
language knowledge data for analysis of a character string. The
character string presentation means further analyzes based on
language knowledge data stored in the language knowledge storage
means a candidate character string discriminated based on a
character code stored in the character code definition-storage
means, and presents a corresponding character string as a
candidate.
[0016] Based on the third aspect of the invention, the
communications terminal apparatus is provided with language
knowledge storage means, and therefore the candidate character
string discriminated based on the character code stored in the
character code definition-storage means is further analyzed based
on the language knowledge data, thereby narrowing candidate
character strings.
[0017] The fourth aspect of the invention is based on the
communications terminal apparatus according to any of the first to
third aspects, and further includes character string determination
means for determining one candidate character string to be
presented by the character string presentation means. The
transmission means transmits a key identifier string stored in the
input key identifier storage means only when there is one candidate
character string to be presented by the character string
presentation means.
[0018] Based on the fourth aspect of the invention, the
communications terminal apparatus transmits a key identifier string
stored in the input key identifier storage means only when there is
only one candidate character string to be presented by the
character string presentation means. Therefore, when the number of
candidate character strings is not one, the transmission of the key
identifier string can be suppressed. Therefore, when a receiving
apparatus discriminates a character code string from a received key
identifier string, the ambiguity due to failure in discrimination
of one character code string can be prevented.
[0019] The fifth aspect of the invention is based on the
communications terminal apparatus according to any of the first to
fourth aspects, and the transmitting means transmits a key
identifier string stored in the input key identifier storage means
after compressing the key identifier string.
[0020] Based on the fifth aspect of the invention, the
communications terminal apparatus transmits a key identifier string
after compressing it. Therefore, not only the amount of information
about the code itself representing a character can be reduced by
using a key identifier, but also the number of codes to be
compressed can be reduced. As a result, the amount of information
to be transmitted can further be reduced, thereby reducing the text
data transmission cost.
[0021] The sixth aspect of the invention is based on the
communications terminal apparatus according to any of the first to
fifth aspects, and the plurality of keys include a key for
selection of the type of language.
[0022] Based on the sixth aspect of the invention, the
communications terminal apparatus is provided with a key for
selection of the type of language. Therefore, the user can input a
character with the type of language switched by a key operation.
Furthermore, since the key identifier string stored in the input
key identifier storage means includes a key identifier
corresponding to the key for selection of the type of language, it
is possible to discriminate the selected type of language based on
the key identifier. Therefore, a key identifier string representing
characters of a plurality of languages can be generated with a
small amount of information without defining a number of key
identifiers depending on the type of language, thereby performing
efficient transmission.
[0023] The seventh aspect of the invention is based on the
communications terminal apparatus according to any of the first to
sixth aspects, and when the key identifier is configured by the
amount of information of n (n is a natural number) bits, the number
of the plurality of keys is larger than (n-1)th power of 2, and is
equal to or smaller than n-th power of 2.
[0024] Based on the seventh aspect of the invention, when the
number of a plurality of keys is larger than (n-1)th power of 2,
and is equal to or smaller than n-th power of 2, the key identifier
can be configured by the amount of information of n bits.
Therefore, the key identifier can be defined by the smallest
possible amount of information depending on the number of key,
thereby reducing the transmission cost to the minimum value and
attaining the highest transmission efficiency.
[0025] The eighth aspect of the invention is based on the
communications terminal apparatus according to any of the first to
seventh aspects, and further includes: reception means for
receiving the key identifier string from an external device; and
character code string discrimination means for discriminating a
character code string corresponding to the key identifier string
based on the key identifier string received by the reception
means.
[0026] Based on the eighth aspect of the invention, the
communications terminal apparatus discriminates a character code
string corresponding to a key identifier string received from an
external device based on the key identifier string. Therefore, the
communications terminal apparatus can present the character code
string corresponding to the key identifier string received from the
external device after converting it into a character string which
can be recognized by a user.
[0027] The ninth aspect of the invention is based on a reception
apparatus including: reception means for receiving the key
identifier string from the communications terminal apparatus
according to any of the first to eighth aspects; and character code
string discrimination means for discriminating based on a key
identifier string received by the reception means a character code
string corresponding to the key identifier string.
[0028] Based on the ninth aspect of the invention, the reception
apparatus discriminates a character code string corresponding to a
key identifier string received from a communications terminal
apparatus based on the key identifier string.
[0029] Therefore, a user can use the reception apparatus as a
simple apparatus for receiving a key identifier string from the
communications terminal apparatus, converting it to a character
string, and presenting the result.
[0030] The tenth aspect of the invention provides a method for
directing a computer to perform, comprising: a key identifier
string discriminating step of discriminating whether or not, when
an operation signal of a key is detected, a key identifier
corresponding to the key represents a transmit instruction; a code
string storing step of adding and storing the key identifier as a
key identifier string in a key identifier storage area when it is
discriminated in the key identifier string discriminating step that
the key identifier does not represent a transmit instruction; and a
transmitting step of transmitting a key identifier string stored in
the key identifier storage area when it is discriminated in the key
identifier string discriminating step that the key identifier
represents a transmit instruction.
[0031] Based on the tenth aspect of the invention, the computer
performs according to the method to add and store a key identifier
as a key identifier string in the key identifier storage area as a
key identifier string when the key identifier corresponding to an
operated key does not represent a transmit instruction, and
transmits the key identifier string stored in the key identifier
storage area only when the key identifier represents a transmit
instruction. Therefore, a key identifier can be defined by a
smaller amount of information, and text data can be represented and
transmitted as a key identifier string, thereby enhancing the
effect of reducing the amount of information to be transmitted. As
a result, the communications cost can be reduced, and network
resources can be efficiently used.
[0032] According to the present invention, the communications
terminal apparatus generates and transmits a key identifier string
which is an array of key identifiers uniquely corresponding to an
operated key. Therefore, by defining a key identifier by the
smallest amount of information which can represent each key, a key
identifier string of a small amount of information can be generated
and transmitted, thereby enhancing the effect of reducing the
amount of information when text data is transmitted. Thus, the
communications cost can be reduced, and the network resources such
as a band width, etc. can be efficiently used.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0033] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the
configuration of the communications terminal apparatus according to
an embodiment of the present invention;
[0034] FIG. 2 shows an example of the appearance of the
communications terminal apparatus according to an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0035] FIG. 3 shows an example of the correspondence between an
input key and a key identifier according to an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0036] FIG. 4 shows an example of the correspondence among a key, a
key identifier, and a character according to an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0037] FIG. 5 is a correspondence table between a character by
ASCII and a character code according to an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0038] FIG. 6 shows an example of language knowledge data according
to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0039] FIG. 7 shows an example of a flow of the process from
generation to transmission of text data;
[0040] FIG. 8 shows an example of input display in the
communications terminal apparatus according to an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0041] FIG. 9 shows an example of input display in the
communications terminal apparatus according to an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0042] FIG. 10 shows an example of input display in the
communications terminal apparatus according to an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0043] FIG. 11 shows an example of input display in the
communications terminal apparatus according to an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0044] FIG. 12 shows an example of a flow of the process from
generation to transmission of text data according to a variation
1;
[0045] FIG. 13 shows an example of the appearance of the
communications terminal apparatus according to a variation 2;
[0046] FIG. 14 shows an example of the definition of the
correspondence among a key, a key identifier, and a character
according to a variation 2;
[0047] FIG. 15 shows an example of a flow of the process from
generation to transmission of text data according to a variation
3;
[0048] FIG. 16 shows an example of display of a message by the
communications terminal apparatus according to a variation 3;
and
[0049] FIG. 17 shows an example of a flow of the process of
receiving text data according to variation 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0050] The best mode for embodying the present invention is
explained below by referring to the attached drawings. In the
drawings referred to in the explanation below, identical units are
assigned the same reference numerals.
[0051] (1. Configuration)
[0052] FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a communications terminal
apparatus 100 showing an example of the embodiment of the present
invention.
[0053] The communications terminal apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 is
a PDA (Personal Digital Assistance) with communication facility or
a mobile wireless communications equipment such as a mobile
telephone, a PHS (Personal Handyphone System), etc. The
communications terminal apparatus 100 is not limited to wireless
communications equipment, but can be cable communications
equipment. However, the outstanding advantage of the present
invention is reflected on mobile wireless communications equipment
indicating a smaller number of input keys.
[0054] As shown in FIG. 1, the communications terminal apparatus
100 comprises key input means 101, language knowledge storage means
102, data communications means 103, a CPU 104, display means 105, a
battery 106, and data storage means 107.
[0055] The key input means 101 is configured by including a
keyboard having a plurality of keys. In the embodiment of the
present invention, one key corresponds to one or more characters
(including numbers) and a control command. In the explanation
below, a control command is assumed to be a kind of character.
[0056] The correspondence between a key and a character is
explained below by referring to FIG. 2 showing an example of the
appearance of the communications terminal apparatus 100. The key
array shown in FIG. 2 corresponds to a typical mobile telephone.
That is, a key 301 indicates a character set {1, (space)}, a key
302 indicates a character set {2, A, B, C}, a key 303 indicates a
character set {3, D, E, F}, a key 304 indicates a character set {4,
G, H, I}, a key 305 indicates a character set {5, J, K, L}, a key
306 indicates a character set {6, M, N, O}, a key 307 indicates a
character set {7, P, Q, R, S}, a key 308 indicates a character set
{8, T, U, V}, a key 309 indicates a character set {9, W, X, Y, Z},
a key 310 indicates a character set {punctuation mark, specific
symbol}, a key 311 indicates a character set {0, (NEXT) }, a key
312 indicates a character set {(SELECT)}, a key 313 indicates a
character set {(TRANSMIT) }, a key 314 indicates a character set
{(MODE SWITCHING) }, and a key 315 indicates a character set
{(CONVERT) }. The punctuation mark indicates {. , ? !}, etc., and a
specific symbol indicates a symbol other than a number, an
alphabetical character, a punctuation mark, a space, for example,
{* @ $ & =}, etc.
[0057] (NEXT) is a control command to request a next candidate.
When a candidate character string for conversion is not a desired
one, a user operates the key 311 corresponding to the control
command (NEXT) . When the CPU 104 of the communications terminal
apparatus 100 detects that the key 311 is operated, it issues an
instruction to request a next candidate. An operation to be
detected by the CPU 104 of the communications terminal apparatus
100 can be touching or turning other than pressing a key. (SELECT)
is also a control command, and when a candidate character string
for conversion is desired by a user, it is used to indicate the
request of the user. When (SELECT) is selected, the space
indicating a delimiter of a word can be automatically appended to
the character string. (MODE SWITCHING) is a control command to
issue an instruction to switch an input mode, and is used to switch
between a character other than a number and a number. In the
present embodiment, a number is excluded in the character set in a
normal mode. However, when a control command (MODE SWITCHING) is
given in the normal mode, a character other than a number is
excluded. In an input mode in which a character other than a number
is excluded, if a control command (MODE SWITCHING) is given, then
control is returned to a normal mode. (CONVERT) indicates a
delimiter of a word and a phrase, and issues a command to specify
the reference of language knowledge data for resolution of
ambiguity of an input character string. (TRANSMIT) is a control
command to issue an instruction to transmit text data (key
identifier string) generated by a key operation.
[0058] The function of determining one candidate character string
to be displayed on the display means 105 by issuing a control
command such as the above-mentioned (SELECT), (NEXT), and other
control commands is referred to as a character string determination
function 1011.
[0059] In the present invention, the key array is not limited to
the example shown in FIG. 2, but any other array can be used. The
correspondence between a key and a character is also not limited to
the above-mentioned example, but can be any other correspondences.
Also the type of character can be discriminated between an upper
case and a lower case, can be a character of a language other than
English, or can be a glyph.
[0060] The data storage means 107 shown in FIG. 1 is to store
various data, and is configured by a magnetic disk, flash memory,
etc. For example, the data storage means 107 stores software for
control of the communications terminal apparatus 100 such as
communications software, an operating system, etc., and software
for generation and transmission of the text data relating to the
present invention. The data storage means 107 also stores a symbol
corresponding to a key input by the key input means 101.
[0061] The data storage means 107 comprises a key identifier
definition storage area 1071, a character code definition storage
area 1072, and a input key identifier storage area 1073 as a
storage area specific to the present invention. The key identifier
definition storage area 1071 stores key identifier definition
information for definition of a key identifier uniquely
corresponding to each key. The character code definition storage
area 1072 stores character code definition information for
definition of a character code corresponding to each key. In the
present embodiment, the character code definition information is
configured by a "correspondence table among a key, a key
identifier, and a character" and a "correspondence table between a
character code and a character". The input key identifier storage
area 1073 additionally stores a key identifier corresponding to an
operated key as a key identifier string.
[0062] FIG. 3 shows an example of the key identifier definition
information stored in the key identifier definition storage area
1071 of the data storage means 107. The key identifier defined in
the present invention requires only the amount of information with
which the number of keys can be represented in binary. For example,
when the number of keys is 9 or more and 16 or less, 4 bits are to
be defined as the smallest amount of information about the key
identifier. In this case, to represent 15 keys of the
communications terminal apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 2, the key
identifier is defined by 4 bits.
[0063] FIG. 4 show an example of the correspondence table among a
key, a key identifier, and a character stored in the 1072 of the
data storage means 107. In this example, since the key and the key
identifier corresponds one to one to each other, the correspondence
between the key identifier and the character can be signal
indicated by the correspondence between the key and the character.
Therefore, the table shown in FIG. 4 can be transformed into a
correspondence table between the key and the character, and can be
transformed into a correspondence table between the key identifier
and the character. Furthermore, the key identifier definition
information shown in FIG. 3 can be included in the correspondence
table shown in FIG. 4.
[0064] FIG. 5 shows an example of a correspondence table between a
character and a character code in binary notation stored in the
character code definition storage area 1072 of the data storage
means 107. In the correspondence table of FIG. 5, a character code
is represented in the ASCII system.
[0065] In the present embodiment, the character code definition
information is represented in a table format as shown in FIGS. 4
and 5, but the character code definition information only has to be
information indicating the correspondence between a key and a
character code, and in not limited to the above-mentioned data
configuration.
[0066] The input key identifier storage area 1073 sequentially adds
and stores a key identifier corresponding to an operated key as a
key identifier string until the key 313 corresponding to the
control command (TRANSMIT) is operated. That is, when a user
operates a key, the key identifier corresponding to the operated
key is retrieved and obtained from the key identifier definition
information stored in the key identifier definition storage area
1071. When the obtained key identifier does not correspond to the
control command (TRANSMIT), the obtained key identifier is added
and stored as the trailer of the key identifier string stored in
the input key identifier storage area 1073. For example, when a
user presses the key 303, the key identifier "0010" corresponding
to the key 303 is added as the trailer of the key identifier string
stored in the input key identifier storage area 1073 (hereinafter
referred to as "append").
[0067] The language knowledge storage means 102 shown in FIG. 1
stores language knowledge data for resolution of ambiguity of input
by the key input means 101, and is configured by a magnetic disk,
flash memory, etc.
[0068] The ambiguity of input is explained below. In the present
invention, since the key of the key input means 101 corresponds one
to many to characters (they can correspond one to one, but the
correspondence of one to one is assumed to be a special case of the
correspondence of one to many), it is assumed that a character set
is specified including a character desired by the user and a
character not desired by the user when the user operates one key.
Thus, when there are a plurality of characters corresponding to an
input key, it is referred to as the ambiguity of correspondence
between the input key and the characters.
[0069] FIG. 6 shows a part of language knowledge data. In the
present embodiment, an English word list arranged in an
alphabetical order is used as language knowledge data. By referring
to the language knowledge data, the ambiguity of correspondence
between an input key and characters can be solved by the
conventional technology of excluding what is not registered in the
language knowledge data from the candidate character strings which
can be generated from an input key. For example, using the methods
disclosed by the U.S. Pat. No. 5,818,437 and JP11-312046A, the
problem can be solved.
[0070] In the present embodiment, a word list is used as language
knowledge data, but the lexicon (word list extended to inflection)
can be used as language knowledge data by replacing the word list,
and a connective character string (n-gram) can also be used as
language knowledge data. Additionally, the entry of each word,
lexicon, and connective character string can be assigned an
occurrence probability to prioritize a candidate character string
matching a higher occurrence probability. Otherwise, the data
storage means 107 can also function as the language knowledge
storage means 102.
[0071] The data communications means 103 is configured to include
an antenna and communications software to communicate data with the
communications terminal apparatus 100 which is a communications
partner through a wireless network such as a mobile telephone
network, a PHS network, a wireless LAN (Local Area Network),
etc.
[0072] The data communications means 103 has a transmission
function 1031 and a reception function 1032. The transmission
function 1031 transmits a key identifier string stored in the input
key identifier storage area 1073 when it detects a transmit
instruction by a key operation of a user. The reception function
1032 receives a key identifier string from an external device.
[0073] A character code string discrimination means 108 analyzes an
array of key identifiers configuring a received key identifier
string from the head when it receives the key identifier string by
the reception function 1032 of the data communications means 103,
and discriminates a character code string corresponding to the key
identifier string.
[0074] The display means 105 is configured by including a liquid
crystal display, and is used as means for providing a user
interface for display of an input character in the key input means
101 according to the present invention. Practically, the
communications terminal apparatus 100 has a character string
presentation function 1051, and using the character string
presentation function 1051 a candidate character string is replaced
with a corresponding character (font) string, and displayed it on
the display means 105.
[0075] In the present embodiment, a candidate character string
input through the key input means 101 is presented to a user by
displaying a candidate character string on the display means 105,
but the presenting method is not limited to this. For example, a
presenting method by voice and a character string can be used.
[0076] The CPU 104 performs an arithmetic operation as the
communications terminal apparatus 100. The battery 106 supplies
electric power required to operate the communications terminal
apparatus 100.
[0077] (2. Flow of Process)
[0078] FIG. 7 shows an example of a flow of the process from
generation to transmission of text data in the communications
terminal apparatus 100. As the preparation before starting the flow
shown in FIG. 7, the initial status of a code string K and a code
string C used as variables is a null string.
[0079] The code string K is a variable indicating a string of key
identifiers one to one corresponding to key input. The code string
K is used in transmitting text data, and a device for reducing the
amount of information is made. The code string C is a variable
indicating a string of common character codes. In this example, the
ASCII system which is formed by standard character codes is used.
The code string C is used for a user in presenting text data
(candidate character string) input using keys. A series of
processes shown in FIG. 7 are realized by the CPU 104 performing an
arithmetic operation according to the software stored in the data
storage means 107.
[0080] In FIG. 7, when the process is started, the user of the
communications terminal apparatus 100 presses the key corresponding
to the character configuring the text to be transmitted, or the key
corresponding to the control command to be specified using the key
input means 101 in step 201.
[0081] In step 202, the communications terminal apparatus 100
determines in step 201 whether or not the key pressed by the user
corresponds to the control command (TRANSMIT) by referring to the
key identifier definition information stored in the key identifier
definition storage area 1071 and the character code definition
information stored in the character code definition storage area
1072. In this example, since the communications terminal apparatus
100 has the key array as shown in FIG. 2, the key 313 uniquely
corresponds to the control command (TRANSMIT) as shown in FIG. 4.
Therefore, when the key 313 is pressed, control is passed to step
206.
[0082] When control is passed to step 206, the communications
terminal apparatus 100 obtains the code string K from the input key
identifier storage area 1073 of the data storage means 107, and
transmits the code string K to the communications terminal which is
the communications partner by the transmission function 1031 of the
data communications means 103. Then, the communications terminal
apparatus 100 initializes the code string K and the code string C
to a null string.
[0083] On the other hand, when a key other than the key 313 is
pressed, the pressed key does not correspond to the control command
(TRANSMIT), thereby passing control to step 203. When control is
passed to step 203, the communications terminal apparatus 100
obtains a key identifier corresponding to the key pressed by the
user in step 201 (in the present embodiment, any of the keys 301 to
315) from the key identifier definition information stored in the
key identifier definition storage area1071. The communications
terminal apparatus 100 appends the obtained key identifier to the
code string K, and stores the code string K in the input key
identifier storage area 1073 of the data storage means 107.
[0084] In step 204, the communications terminal apparatus 100
determines the code string C corresponding to the code string K by
referring to the key identifier definition information stored in
the key identifier definition storage area 1071 and the character
code definition information stored in the character code definition
storage area 1072, and the determined code string C is stored in
the data storage means 107. When the key identifier corresponds one
to many to the character codes, a plurality of candidates can be
determined as a code string C.
[0085] In step 205, the communications terminal apparatus 100
replaces the character code forming the code string C with the
corresponding character (font) and displays it on the display means
105 by the character string presentation function 1051. After step
205, control is returned to step 201.
[0086] (3. Operation)
[0087] Next, the operation with the above-mentioned configuration
is explained below. In this example, the user performs an operation
of inputting a word "YES" as a transmit instruction, and the
iterative process from step 201 to step 205 shown in FIG. 7 and the
process in step 206 are explained in detail.
[0088] First, the user presses the key 309 including "Y" in the
communications terminal apparatus 100 in the key array shown in
FIG. 2 (step 201). Since the key 309 is not a transmit command, the
determination in step 202 is NO, and control is passed to step
203.
[0089] Then, the communications terminal apparatus 100 obtains the
key identifier "1000" corresponding to the key 309 from the key
identifier definition information shown in FIG. 3 stored in the key
identifier definition storage area 1071. The communications
terminal apparatus 100 appends the key identifier "1000" to the
code string K, and stores the code string K (at this time, K is
"1000") in the input key identifier storage area 1073 of the data
storage means 107 (step 203).
[0090] Then, in step 204, the communications terminal apparatus 100
converts the code string K to the code string C by referring to the
key identifier definition information stored in the key identifier
definition storage area 1071 and the character code definition
information stored in the character code definition storage area
1072. Practically, as shown in FIG. 4, in the normal mode, the
character corresponding to the key identifier "1000" has four
candidates {W, X, Y, Z}. Furthermore, by referring to the
correspondence table between the character and the character code
as shown in FIG. 5, the characters W, X, Y, and Z are represented
by 8-bit character codes "01010111", "01011000", "01011001", and
"01011010" respectively. Therefore, the code string C obtained from
the code string K can have four candidates {"01010111", "01011000",
"01011001", "01011010"}. The communications terminal apparatus 100
stores the code string C in the data storage means 107.
[0091] Then, in step 205, the communications terminal apparatus 100
generates data (font) for display of characters respectively
corresponding to the four character codes forming the code string C
by the character string presentation function 1051, and displays
the data on the display means 105. FIG. 8 shows an example of
display on the display means 105 of the communications terminal
apparatus 100.
[0092] Then, in step 201, the above-mentioned processes are
repeated. In step 201, the user presses the key 303 including "E".
Since the key 303 does not indicate a transmit command, the
determination in step 202 is NO, thereby passing control to step
203.
[0093] Then, the communications terminal apparatus 100 obtains the
key identifier "0010" corresponding to the key 303 according to the
key identifier definition information stored in the key identifier
definition storage area 1071. The communications terminal apparatus
100 appends the obtained key identifier "0010" to the code string
K, and stores the code string K (at this time, K is "1000 0010") in
the input key identifier storage area 1073 of the data storage
means 107 (step 203).
[0094] In step 204, the communications terminal apparatus 100
converts the code string K to the code string C. At this time, the
character code corresponding to the key identifier "1000" is stored
as the code string C in the data storage means 107. Therefore, it
can be easily obtained by referring to the data storage means 107.
On the other hand, the character corresponding to the key
identifier "0010" has three candidates {D, E, F} in the normal mode
as shown in FIG. 4. Furthermore, by referring to FIG. 5, character
codes D, E, and F are respectively represented by "01000100",
"01000101", and "01000110". Therefore, the code string C obtained
from the code string K can have 12 candidates {"01010111 01000100",
"0101100001000100", "0101100101000100", "0101101001000100",
"01010111 01000101", "01011000 01000101", "01011001 01000101",
"01011010 01000101", "01010111 01000110", "01011000 01000110",
"01011001 01000110", "01011010 01000110"}. The communications
terminal apparatus 100 stores the 12 candidates as the code string
C in the data storage means 107.
[0095] Then, in step 205, the communications terminal apparatus 100
generates data for display of a character string corresponding to
the candidate character code string based on the code string C by
the character string presentation function 1051, and displays the
data on the display means 105. FIG. 9 shows an example of display
of the communications terminal apparatus 100 on the display means
105.
[0096] Back in step 201, the above-mentioned processes are
repeated. In step 201, the user presses the key 307 including "S".
Since the procedure up to step 205 is the same as that described
above, the explanation is omitted, but when the process in step 205
is completed, the code string K is "1000 00100110", and the code
string C has 48 candidates of {"01010111 01000100 01010000",
"01011000 01000100 01010000", "01011001 01000100 01010000",
"01011010 01000100 01010000", "01010111 01000101 01010000",
"01011000 01000101 01010000", "01011001 01000101 01010000",
"01011010 01000101 01010000", "01010111 01000110 01010000",
"01011000 01000110 01010000", "01011001 01000110 01010000",
"01011010 01000110 01010000", "01010111 01000100 01010001",
"01011000 01000100 01010001", "01011001 01000100 01010001",
"01011010 01000100 01010001", "01010111 01000101 01010001",
"01011000 01000101 01010001", "01011001 01000101 01010001",
"01011010 0100010 1 01010001", "01010111 01000110 01010001",
"01011000 01000110 01010001", "01011001 01000110 01010001",
"01011010 01000110 01010001", "01010111 01000100 01010010",
"01011000 01000100 01010010", "01011001 01000100 01010010",
"01011010 01000100 01010010", "01010111 01000101 01010010",
"01011000 01000101 01010010", "01011001 01000101 01010010",
"01011010 01000101 01010010", "01010111 01000110 01010010",
"01011000 01000110 01010010", "01011001 01000110 01010010",
"01011010 01000110 01010010", "01010111 01000100 01010011",
"01011000 01000100 01010011", "01011001 01000100 01010011",
"01011010 01000100 01010011", "01010111 01000101 01010011",
"01011000 01000101 01010011", "01001001 01000101 01010011" ,
"01011010 01000101 01010011", "01001011 01000110 01010011",
"01011000 01000110 01010011", "01011001 01000110 01010011",
"01011010 01000110 01010011"}. FIG. 10 shows an example of the
display on the display means 105 of the communications terminal
apparatus 100 (step 205).
[0097] Then, back in step 201, the above-mentioned processes are
repeated. In step 201, the user presses the key 315 corresponding
to the control command (CONVERT) indicating the delimiter of a word
and the language knowledge data. Since the key 315 is not a
transmit command, the determination in step 202 is NO, and control
is passed to step 203.
[0098] Then, the communications terminal apparatus 100 appends the
key identifier "1110" corresponding to the key 315 to the code
string K, and stores the code string K (at this time, K is "1000
0010 0110 1110") in the input key identifier storage area 1073 of
the data storage means 107 (step 203).
[0099] Then, in step 204, the communications terminal apparatus 100
converts the code string K to the code string C. Since the trailing
4 bits of the code string K is control command (CONVERT), the
ambiguity of the code string C is resolved using the language
knowledge data shown in FIG. 6 stored in the language knowledge
storage means 102. Although the code string C has 48 candidates for
a character string, the communications terminal apparatus 100
determines whether or not each of the candidate character strings
matches the entry of the language knowledge data (English word
list) . If the candidate character string does not match the entry
of the language knowledge data, the candidate is deleted from the
candidate character strings to mitigate the ambiguity.
[0100] According to the present embodiment, in the 48 character
strings, only "YES" matches the entry of the language knowledge
data. Therefore, the code string other than the code string
"01011001 01000101 01010011" corresponding to "YES" is deleted from
the code string c. That is, the code string C is "01011001 01000101
01010011". It is possible that the code string itself is not
deleted from the code string C and deletion flag information is
added, or selection flag information is added to the
candidates.
[0101] Then, in step 205, the communications terminal apparatus 100
converts the code string C to a character string by the character
string presentation function 1051, and displays it on the display
means 105. FIG. 11 shows an example of display on the display means
105 of the communications terminal apparatus 100. In this example,
only "YES" is displayed as a candidate input character, and the
user can uniquely obtain a desired character string.
[0102] If a plurality of candidate character strings remain, the
candidate character strings are displayed in the registration order
of the language knowledge data or in the order of occurrence
frequency assigned to language knowledge data. If the first
candidate is not a desired character string, the user presses the
key 311 in step 201, thereby issuing a (NEXT) command, and
selecting a next candidate. The key identifier "0010" corresponding
to the (NEXT) is appended to the code string K in step 203. If the
next candidate is not a desired character string, the user presses
key 311 in step 201, thereby issuing a (NEXT) command.
[0103] When a desired character string is narrowed from a plurality
of candidate character strings, not only a user conversion
indication is received in a unit of word, but each character can be
sequentially narrowed, etc. using any conventional method.
[0104] In step 201, the user presses the key 313 corresponding to
(TRANSMIT) to specify the transmission of text data "YES". As a
result, the determination in step 202 is YES, and control is passed
to step 206. In step 206, the communications terminal apparatus 100
transmits the code string K (at this time, K is "1000 0010 0110
1110") stored in the input key identifier storage area 1073 of the
data storage means 107 by the transmission function 1031 of the
data communications means 103. When the process in step 206 is
completed, the flow shown in FIG. 2 terminated.
[0105] Thus, when text data is transmitted, the conventional
technology transmits character code (in this example, the code
string C "01011001 01000101 01010011", 24 bits). However, according
to the present invention, a key identifier (in this example, the
code string K "1000 0010 0110 1110", 16 bits) can be transmitted.
Therefore, the amount of information of the text data to be
transmitted can be reduced, and the transmission efficiency can be
enhanced.
[0106] The difference between the character code and the key
identifier basically depends on the difference in the amount of
information about the code required in representing a character.
When the alphabet is represented, the normally used ASCII requires
8 bits/character. However, as in the present embodiment, the key
identifier when the alphabet is input using 15 types of keys can be
represented by 4 bits/character. Therefore, the amount of
information can be reduced as compared with the conventional
technology.
[0107] In the present invention, the number of types of keys (the
number of keys) can be optionally determined. Depending on the
number of types of keys, a key identifier in which each key can be
represented by a smaller amount of information, thereby obtaining
advantageous transmission efficiency. For example, when the number
of types of keys are 5 to 8, 3-bit key identifier is defined, when
the number of types of keys are 9 to 16, 4-bit key identifier is
defined, when the number of types of keys are 17 to 32, 5-bit key
identifier is defined, when the number of types of keys are 33 to
64, 6-bit key identifier is defined, when the number of types of
keys are 65 to 128, 7-bit key identifier is defined. In this way,
the highest transmission efficiency can be obtained. That is, when
the number of keys is larger than (n-1)th power of 2, and equal to
or less than n-th power of 2 (n is a natural number), the key
identifier can be defined to be configured by an amount of
information of n bits.
[0108] When the number of types of keys is 129 or more, the key
identifier of 8 bits or more is required. Therefore, it is not
advantageous over the ASCII codes. When Japanese text data is to be
transmitted, Japanese character code normally requires 16
bits/character as the Shift-JIS code. Therefore, when a key
identifier which can be represented by 4-bit/character is used, the
difference in transmission efficiency becomes larger, thereby
attaining an advantageous function.
[0109] In the present invention, the code string K includes
ambiguity of correspondence to character, and it is necessary to
use language knowledge data for resolving ambiguity in the
communications terminal on the receiving side. To resolve
ambiguity, by using the language knowledge data in the same method
as the communications terminal apparatus 100 on the transmission
side, the transmitter (user of the communications terminal
apparatus 100) desired character string can be realized. Therefore,
it is necessary to add a key identifier corresponding to a control
command such as (CONVERT) to the code string K. However, since the
contribution of a smaller amount of information of the code is
larger than the influence of the number of codes increasing by
containing a control command, the total effect of reducing the
amount of information can be obtained. In the above-mentioned
embodiment, the 4-bit key identifier corresponding to the (CONVERT)
is added to the code string K, but the total amount of information
is smaller than the code string C.
[0110] As described above, the communications terminal apparatus
100 generates and transmits a key identifier string which is an
array of the key identifier uniquely corresponds to the operated
key. Therefore, the key identifier is defined by the smallest
amount of information which can represent the number of types of
key, thereby generating and transmitting a key identifier of a
smaller amount of information. Therefore, the effect of reducing
the amount of information when text data is transmitted can be
enhanced. Thus, the communications cost can be reduced, and the
network resources such as band width, etc. can be efficiently
used.
[0111] Furthermore, using an input interface such as T9 etc. which
has already been widely used, the compression efficiency of the
text data can be improved without forcing the learning of a new
input method to a user or without requesting an operation other
than text input.
[0112] (4. Variations)
[0113] The embodiments of the present invention are described
above, but the present invention is not limited to those
embodiments, and variations can be devised in the range of the
technical concept. An example of a variation can be as follows.
[0114] (Variation 1)
[0115] In the present invention, the flow shown in FIG. 7 can be
transformed into a flow including a compressing process as shown in
FIG. 12. In FIG. 12, step 206 shown in FIG. 7 is replaced with
steps 1201 and 1202. Other portions are the same as those shown in
FIG. 7, and the explanation is omitted here.
[0116] In step 1201, the communications terminal apparatus 100
converts the code string K configured by a key identifier to a code
string K' having a smaller number of codes. To realize this, a
conventional text data compression algorithm is described as
software and stored it in advance in the data storage means 107
shown in FIG. 1, and the CPU 104 can perform an arithmetic
operation based on the software. As a conventional text data
compression algorithm, for example, the algorithm described in the
Reference 1.
[0117] Then, in step 1202, the communications terminal apparatus
100 transmits the code string K' by the transmission function 1031
of the data communications means 103. The code string K' can
include flag information about the compressing process performed to
decrease the number of codes by the specific text data compressing
algorithm.
[0118] In an example of a variation, not only the amount of
information about the code indicating a character can be reduced by
using a key identifier, but also the number of codes can be
reduced, thereby largely improving the text data transmission
cost.
[0119] (Variation 2)
[0120] FIG. 13 shows a variation of the appearance of the
communications terminal apparatus 100. In this example, text in not
only English but also Japanese and a combination of English and
Japanese can be transmitted with the keys and characters extended
correspondingly. For example, the key 302 indicates not only
English {A, B, C} but also Japanese characters of {KA, KI, KU, KE,
KO}. FIG. 14 shows an example of the correspondence among the key,
the key identifier, and the character in the key array in FIG. 13.
In this example, Japanese specific pronunciation is generated by
the (CONVERT) command, but a switching control command to generate
Japanese specific pronunciation can be specifically defined.
Katakana and Kanji can be generated by storing language knowledge
data in advance and using (CONVERT) command after inputting
Hiragana. The conversion from Hiragana to Katakana and Kanji can be
easily realized using the conventional Kana-Kanji conversion
method, for example, the method described in JP54-139356A and
JP58-144246A.
[0121] In FIG. 13, the key 316 corresponds to (JAPANESE/ENGLISH) is
a control command for switching input mode between Japanese and
English. In the present variation, the input mode of the
communications terminal apparatus 100 is normally a Japanese input
mode. When the (JAPANESE/ENGLISH) command is issued, the input mode
is changed. As shown in FIG. 14, since the key identifier
corresponding to the (JAPANESE/ENGLISH) command is "1111", if the
key 316 (uniquely) indicating the (JAPANESE/ENGLISH) command is
pressed in step 201 shown in FIG. 7, then in step 203, the key
identifier "1111" is appended to the code string K.
[0122] In step 204, the communications terminal apparatus 100
converts the code string K to the code string C. To convert the
code string K, the communications terminal apparatus 100 analyzes
the code string K from the leading key identifier to the trailer,
and determines the character code corresponding to each key
identifier. When determining a character code corresponding to one
of the key identifiers of the code string K, the character to be
determined depends on the occurrence of the key identifier "1111"
toward the header from the key identifier. If there is no "1111"
toward the header from the key identifier to be determined, the
candidate character string corresponding to the key identifier
cannot obtained from the row of English shown in FIG. 14 (this is
referred to as a "masked" status of the English row) . When "1111"
appears in the code string K, until the next "1111" appears, the
row of Japanese is masked. Similarly, each time "1111" appears in
the code string K, the mask of the row of English and the mask of
the row of Japanese are repeated.
[0123] Thus, by appending the key identifier corresponding to the
(JAPANESE/ENGLISH) command to the code string K, the text of
Japanese and English in a mixed manner can be efficiently
transmitted without preparing a plurality of code strings K.
Furthermore, according to the present invention, not only Japanese
and English, any other languages can be combined by the definition
of the control command.
[0124] (Variation 3)
[0125] FIG. 15 is a flow of an example of the flow of the process
from the generation of text data to the transmission in the
variation 3. In FIG. 15, a variation is explained but the
overlapping portion with the explanation of FIG. 7 is omitted.
[0126] In FIG. 15, when the user presses the key 313 corresponding
to (TRANSMIT) to specify transmission in step 201, the
determination in step 202 is YES, and control is passed to step
1501. In step 1501, the communications terminal apparatus 100
analyzes the code string C stored in the data storage means 107,
determines YES when the code string C is configured by a plurality
of candidate character strings, and control is passed to step 1502.
Otherwise, it is determined NO, and control is passed to step
206.
[0127] Configuring the code string C with a plurality of candidate
character string indicates that the input of a character string has
not been finished. That is, in step 201, the user pressed the key
313, but it was mistake. Therefore, in step 1502, the
communications terminal apparatus 100 displays a message on the
display means 105 to notify the user of it, and control is returned
to step 201. In this case, it is invalid that the key 313 has been
pressed. That is, the code string K is not transmitted, and the
code string K and the code string C are in the state before the
press of the key 313. The user continues input of a character
string in step 201.
[0128] FIG. 16 shows an example of displaying a message in step
1502. In this example, in the embodiment in which text data of
"YES" is transmitted, an example of a message displayed when the
key 309 including "Y" and the key 303 including "E" are pressed,
and the key 313 corresponding to (TRANSMIT) is pressed.
[0129] The user refers to the message, and determines one candidate
by operating a key corresponding to the control command such as
(CONVERT), (NEXT), (SELECT), etc by the key input means 101.
[0130] The communications terminal apparatus 100 issues a control
command corresponding to an input key in response to the key
operation of a user, and determines one candidate by the character
string determination function 1011. Thus, one candidate character
string can be determined to be displayed on the display means
105.
[0131] By the variations of the flows, when a character string is
reconfigured from the code string K in the receiving apparatus, the
ambiguity by a plurality of candidate character string can be
resolved.
[0132] In step 1501, as a further variation, when the code string C
is a null string, the determination YES can be made. With the
determination, a null key identifier string which can be issued as
a result of wrong input of pressing the key 313 before pressing the
key corresponding to a character can be avoided.
[0133] To suppress transmission of the code string K when there are
a plurality of candidate character strings in the code string C and
the code string is a null string, when the code string C is
configured only by one character code string, that is, there is
only one character code string to be displayed on the display means
105, the code string K can be transmitted (it is determined NO in
step 1501).
[0134] (Variation 4)
[0135] In the present embodiment, the communications terminal
apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 can be an apparatus for receiving a
key identifier string.
[0136] FIG. 17 shows a flow of the process performed when the
communications terminal apparatus 100 receives a key identifier
string, and displays a character string corresponding to the key
identifier string. As a preparation before starting the flow, as in
the above-mentioned embodiment, the initial status of the code
string K and C are null string. The code string K is a row of key
identifiers, and the code string C is a common character codes (for
example, ASCII) indicating variables.
[0137] When the flow shown in FIG. 17 is started, first, in step
1701, the communications terminal apparatus 100 receives a key
identifier string configured by key identifiers by the reception
function 1032 of the data communications means 103. Furthermore,
the communications terminal apparatus 100 assigns the received key
identifier string to the code string K, and stores it in the 1073
of the data storage means 107.
[0138] In step 1702, the communications terminal apparatus 100
determines whether or not a compressing process (for example, in
the method of the Reference 1) of decreasing the number of codes
has been performed on the code string K. This determination can be
made by checking whether or not the flag information indicating the
compressing process for decreasing the number of codes is performed
by the specific text data algorithm is contained in the code string
K. If the determination is YES, control is passed to step 1703. If
NO, control is passed to step 1704.
[0139] In step 1703, the communications terminal apparatus 100
expands the code string K in the expanding method corresponding to
the text data compression algorithm, and the result is stored as
the code string K in the data storage means 107.
[0140] In step 1704, the communications terminal apparatus 100
analyzes the code string K from the leading symbol by the character
code string discrimination means 108, and converts into the code
string C. In response to the control command such as (CONVERT),
etc., using the language knowledge data accumulated in the language
knowledge storage means 102, a correct data is selected from among
a plurality of candidates for characters. The language knowledge
data is the same as the data used in the communications terminal
apparatus 100 on the transmission side. When the candidate
character string is selected by the command (NEXT), the same
process can be regenerated as in the apparatus in the transmission
side, enabling the character string intended by the apparatus in
the transmission side to be correctly reproduced. The code string C
obtained in step 1704 is stored in the 107.
[0141] Then, in step 1705, by the character string presentation
function 1051, the communications terminal apparatus 100 replaces
the character code forming the character code string C with the
corresponding character (font) and the result is displayed on the
105. When the process in step 1705 is completed, the process in
FIG. 17 terminates.
[0142] When receiving the key identifier string formed by key
difference, and if it is known in advance that the text data
compression algorithm is not performed on the key identifier
string, the process in steps 1702 and 1703 shown in FIG. 17 are
omitted, and the processes from steps 1701 to 1704 can be
performed.
[0143] As another example of variation, the key input means 101
shown in FIG. 1 can be simplified not to include a key to input
characters. In this case, the communications terminal apparatus 100
cannot generate a character string, but it can be used as a simple
communications terminal capable of receiving data only.
[0144] The present invention is available in an industrial field in
which a character can be efficiently input with a smaller number of
keys with the effect of reducing the amount of information when
text data is transmitted, and efficient data transmission is
requested using a communications terminal apparatus such as a
mobile terminal, etc. having a relatively smaller number of input
keys.
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